Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-09
SACRAMENTO.
SKETCH OF OUR MUNICIPAL Gov
ERNMENT AND MAYORS.
The Primary Organization-AR Re-
markable Proclamation-The
Various City Charters.
by Hon. Win. j, Davis.I

mento. OF the movements III Territorial
days looking to the formation of a city
government, DIR. Morse, in his history of
Sacramento-the first work of the kind
written-eives the following account:
PRIMARY GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION.
The population was rapidly increasing,
and desire for some more familiar or
Americanized government began to receive
considerable favor. Accordingly, in the
latter part Of July, 1s49 an election for
Town Councilmen was held at the St.
Louis Exchange, on Second street, between
and J. The result was the election of
John P. Rodgers, H. E. Robinson, P B.
Cornwall, William Stout, z. f. Gillespie,
Thomas f. Chapman, NJ. T. McClelland, A.
NJ. VIM and b. Jennings. On the % day
of August following, the first six gentle
men on the list met at the same place and
organized by making William Stout Presi-
dent and ]. H. Harper Clerk. The first
business coming before the Council was
the preparation of a constitution defining
the duties of the Council and for the gen.
eral government of the city. On August
18th A. NJ. Vim was elected President of
the body III place of Stout, who was absent
ION the Goth ofSeptember an election was
held at the st. Louis Exchange, for the
adoption or rejection of a city charter,
which had been prepared by the fore
mentioned Council. Prior to the election
of these Councilmen there was no law or
government which was not merely nominal
in its character. The only tribunal was an
Alcalde's Court, in which justice was dis
pensed with such dispatch and enormous
costs, that little attention was paid to iiti-
cation. Under this regime the people be-
came eminently given to minding their
own business and avoiding those legal col
lisions that are so generally unsatisfying
in their results. Consequently when this
movement was made TO organize a city
government, spirit of opposition began
to manifest itself among those who took
little leisure to think of matters that were
not directly connected with their business.
The opposition principally emanated from
the votaries of gaming. Hence, when the
election came on, the result was much diff
ferent frcm what was anticipated by the
officials of the city. Upon canvassing the
votes it was discovered that the charter
had been defeated by majority of LAG
votes.
To the President of the Council who
took a deep and lively interest in the new
dispensation of things, this defeat was
both unexpected and Notifying He had
exerted himself with a martyrs zeal to
Undue the people with a proper conception
of their wants and the prospective benefit
of city government, and while reposing
upon platform of conjectured success, he
could not seem to understand the capri
cious and singular phenomenon which
this election evolved. In demonstration
OF This we invite the attention of our
readers to the following proclamation
which, emanating from the President OF the
Council, makes most pathetic yet most
compromising appeal to the sovereign peo-
pie as to what they desire the Council to
do
REMARKABLE PROCLAMATION BY THE COUNCIL.
- Proclamation 10 The people Of Sacramento city
By order Of the President and Council
ION the day of August, 1919, we were elected
Councilmen of this city, and our powers or
duties were not defined. On the 18th of Sep
TENDER following we presented to you charter
for your consideration, which you have seen fit
to reject by majority of I46 votes Since then
we have been unable to determine what the
good people of this city desire us to do and
being Republicans in principle, and having
every confidence in the ability of the people to
govern themselves we again request the resi-
dents of Sacramento city to meet at the St.
Louis Exchange, at half past o'clock, on We'd
he day evening, October 10, 1919, then and there
TO declare what they wish the Council to do If
you wish US TO act under the Mexican laws now
in force, however inapplicable they may be to
our condition, then we must do the best we
en-; if you have objection TO particular features
OF the charter, then strike out the objectionel
features, ana insert such as you desire. The
health and safety o. our city demand immedi-
ate action on your part, for in our primitive
condition, and in the absence of legislative
authority, we can in fact be of no service to
you without your confidence and consent.
signed by A. NJ. VIM, President, and six
Couneilmen"
This proclamation stirred up the people.
and an organization IN favor of charter
was effected. At subsequent election the
charter party won by 296 majority. The
charter adopted was slightly different from
the one originally submitted, but still it
was not altogether satisfactory. In De-
cember public meeting was held at the
horse market, and committee appointed
to draft amendments. The amended
charter was afterward adopted by the
people, and, with slight changes: was
passed into a law by the first Legislature.
THE CHARTER By THE FIRST LEGISLATURE.
On February 81, 1850. the first Iegisla-
ture passed an Act to incorporate Sacra-
mento city, the boundaries of which were
detinedas follows:
All that tract of land lying within the follow
ing boundaries: beginning at the junction of
the American fork with the Sacramento river;
thence down said Sacramento river to street.
as designated on the map or plan of sacra-
menfo city on file in the Recorders office in
said city; thence along said street east to the
point where said street interseets Thirty-first
street. as designated on said map; thence along
the said Thrty-tirst street until the same inter
sects the American fork; thence along the Amer
lean fork to the place of beginning, the SAID
boundaries extending to the middle OF said Sac
ramento river and American fork.
The Act provided that for the govern
ment of the city there should be Mayor,
..r..Aa, r
bers, one of whom should be elected Presi-
dent. II further provided that on the 30th
day after the passage of the Act a city
election should be held for the selection of
thestirst officers, to wit Mayor. Recorder,
nine Councilmen, City Marshal, City At
torney, Assessor and Treasurer. After the
first election the officers mentioned were
tosbe elected on the first Monday in Nav
IN each year, and in case of vacancy a
special election should be ordered by the
Council TO ill the same. The Mayor was
Clothed with complete executive power;
the Recorder performed the duties now in
eumoent on the Police Judge, and the
Marshal those now performed by the Chief
OF Police and City Collector. The Com
mon Council was given power to create
the Offices of City Collector, Harbormaster,
and such other offices as might become
necessary.
On March Is. 1850, the same Legislature
passed an amendatory Act providing that.
on the first Monday of April following,
city election should be held to fill the
offices created by the charter, making il
fall on the same day with the first co6nty
election. The officers then chosen were
to hold until the first Monday of May. 1851.
This amendment did not affect any except
the first election. On April 10, 1850, an
Act was passed providing for the appoint
ment by the Governor OF a Port Warden
for the port of Sacramento.
THE GOVERNOR DIsAeREEs WITH THE LEeIs
LATURE.
The second Legislature passed a new
charter for Sacramento City, and it became
q law on March %, 1851, by operation of
time, and without the approval of the Ex-
ecutiye. Governor McDougal said of it:
The within bill is regarded as oppressive and
extraordinary in many of its features but not
regarding it as infringing any particular princi-
pie of the Constitution. and as il is the Act of
the Representatives of Sacramento county. and
presuming II 90 be the wish of the people of
sacramento City, / permit Il to become law,
by the operation of time, without approving OF
returning II 20 the body in which it originated
This Act provided that the then existing
Government should continue in office until
the election of the officers provided for in
the new charter. The Council was to
divide the city into three wa-ds from each